Florida Man Arrested for Poaching Wild Orchids

After the initial purchase of a few orchids from a big box store four years ago, Gary Bienemann soon became hooked. He started gathering orchids from the woods near his home and travelled to South Florida, where he took rare protected orchids from the same swamp that served as a backdrop for the book The Orchid Thief. The collection at his home grew and he began selling the pilfered plants on eBay.

When an orchid enthusiast saw Mr. Bienemann’s ad, which included the Dancing Lady and Ribbon Orchid, endangered species from South Florida, he contacted the state Department of Environmental Protection. Bienemann was arrested at his home shortly after the tip. In a year and a half he had sold dozens of the threatened orchids for $25 or $35 apiece.

Link: Man Finds Flower’s Power Arresting from the St. Petersburg Times

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:50 PM on June 1, 2005

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